Growers’ Notes, Photos, and Variety Identification (USDA Zone 4)
Edited February 10, 2017 by Drosera
Muravey said:
Are Pierce’s Pride and Perth Pride two completely different varieties, or just transliteration confusion? I planted mine thinking it was a dwarf, but judging by the seedling stage, it looks like a tall, aggressive grower.
They are completely different varieties.
Muravey said:
Are Pierce’s Pride and Perth Pride two completely different varieties, or just transliteration confusion?
Completely different. The other one is logged in our catalog as well under Pierce’s Pride. That is most likely what you have growing, since Pierce’s Pride is a full indeterminate vine.
Sowing Windows, Potting-Up Strategy, and Dwarf Seedling Care
Etoile said:
Hey folks, is late February pushing it too late to sow this one? And dwarfs in general?
If you treat them right in the seedling stage, they grow fast, just like standard stout tree-type dwarfs. Don’t starve them in a tiny 7 oz (200 ml) solo cup, give them at least a 1-quart (1 L) pot so the root system can stretch.
Lana_s_Kavkaza said:
Don’t starve them in a tiny 7 oz (200 ml) solo cup, give them at least a 1-quart (1 L) pot so the root system can stretch.
Meaning, as soon as the first true leaves show up, bump them straight into a 1-quart pot? Or step it up in stages: 7 oz cup, then a 1-pint (0.5 L) cup, then up to 1 quart? Moving a tiny sprout straight into that much empty wet mix makes me nervous 😄
Lana_s_Kavkaza said:
Not immediately, give it about 3 to 4 weeks. Once you see the true leaves spread out 1.5 times wider than the rim of the cup and the root system fills out the container, that is your green light to pot up…
I start all mine using the rolled plastic film diaper-snail method. But I will keep an eye on root fill before potting up. Thanks!
Full Summary: Dwarf Habit, Flavor, Potting Up, and Identification
- 🌿 Plant Type: True dwarf with stout, tree-type stems and rugose (crinkled) dark foliage. Stays compact at roughly 2 ft (60 cm) tall. Ideal for 5-gallon patio containers, raised beds, or tight greenhouse borders.
- 🍅 Fruit & Flavor Profile: Small-to-medium saladette/slicing fruits, 3-5 oz (80-140 g), turning deep dusky burgundy with green-shouldered hues. Flavor is rich, bold, and complex, balancing high sweetness with an assertive old-fashioned tart bite.
- 🌧️ Splitting Susceptibility: Skin is relatively tender; ripe fruits have a tendency to crack radial rings around the stem if exposed to moisture spikes or left past peak ripeness on the plant. Harvest promptly once color deepens.
- 🌱 Seedling Culture: Sowing in late February is well within the acceptable window even for northern growers (USDA Zones 4-5). To prevent stunted dwarfs, avoid root binding in 7 oz (200 ml) cups; pot up into 1-quart (1 L) containers once root balls fill out at week 3-4.
- ⚠️ Variety Mix-Up Warning: Often confused in Russian-speaking catalogs with Pierce’s Pride due to phonetic overlap. Perth Pride is a true 2-foot dwarf; Pierce’s Pride is a vigorous, full-sized indeterminate vine.
- 🌎 Reviewed By: Cold-region gardeners in Moscow Region (Zone 4), St. Petersburg (Zone 5), and the Caucasus (Zone 6).
Perth Pride was selected by Australian breeder Patrina Nuske Small as part of the international Dwarf Tomato Project (“Dwarf Tarting” family: a cross of New Big Dwarf × Paul Robeson). It was named in honor of the capital city of Western Australia.
